Emergency Propane Relief Program Announced

Monday

Feb 3, 2014 at 4:47 PM

Low-Income Kansas Families to Receive Rapid Assistance

Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Phyllis Gilmore announced today, a new Emergency Propane Relief Program. This temporary program is designed to help individuals who rely on propane as their primary heating source and whose income falls between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level.

"We know that as propane costs have dramatically increased, working poor families are unable to afford the expense of keeping their homes warm," Governor Sam Brownback said. "I am excited to see DCF working quickly to help those in need in this emergency situation."

The Emergency Propane Relief Program will provide a one-time $511 benefit to eligible households. The payment will be issued as a two-party check, so that only the propane vendor can deposit it.

The application period is from Tuesday, Feb. 4 through Tuesday, March 4. Applications must be received prior to 5 p.m. on March 4. The continued need for this temporary program will be monitored closely.

Applications are available at all DCF service centers. The applications can also be downloaded from www.dcf.ks.gov and faxed, emailed to propane@dcf.ks.gov or delivered directly to the nearest DCF service center. All supporting documentation must be provided before the application can be processed. Necessary documents include income verification and verification of propane usage and vendor.

"This temporary program is designed to help low-income adults with children and older adults living on fixed incomes," DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore said. "We look forward to helping Kansas families receive the help they need during this unexpected propane price hike."

Families that qualify for the Emergency Propane Relief Program must meet the following criteria:

Households must use propane as their primary heating source and provide verification of their current propane vendor and bill.

Applicants must provide verification of their household's income for the past 30 days.

The combined monthly gross income of household members must be between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level according to the chart below:

Household Size Monthly Income

1 above $1,211; below $1,771

2 above $1,640; below $2,391

3 above $2,069; below $3,011

4 above $2,498; below $3,631

Households below 130 percent of the federal poverty level may apply for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). Those who list propane as their primary heating source will receive priority status for processing.